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Free employee handbook builder: create your draft in minutes

Our free employee handbook builder asks a few questions, lets you choose your policies, and creates a state-specific handbook draft as a Word file. You can preview every page before you download.

Free. No account needed.

What is an employee handbook builder?

An employee handbook builder is a free online tool that creates a draft employee handbook from your answers. This one covers core workplace policies and the policies your state requires or strongly recommends, then gives you an editable Word file to review with an employment attorney.

Think of it as an employee handbook template that is already filled in with your company details and your state’s rules. Pick your state, answer six quick questions, and turn policies on or off until the draft fits how you run your business.

Three steps to your first draft

  1. Tell us about your company.

    Add your company name, logo, and a few details. Pick your state and answer six quick questions.

  2. Choose your policies.

    We pre-select the policies that fit your answers, including the ones your state requires. Turn any policy on or off.

  3. Preview and download.

    See every page before you download. Your handbook comes as an editable Word file.

What your handbook draft includes

Core workplace policies: welcome letter, at-will employment, equal opportunity, conduct, pay, time off, leave, and more

State-specific policies: the policies your state requires or strongly recommends, with the law each one is based on

Size-based guidance: notes on which federal laws, like FMLA and COBRA, likely apply at your size

Acknowledgment page: a signature page for employees to confirm they received the handbook

Available now in 10 states

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

40 more states are coming soon. Check back soon to see if your state has been added.

State list last updated October 18, 2026.

A starting point, not legal advice

This builder gives you a strong first draft based on public federal and state employment laws. It has not been reviewed by an attorney, and it doesn’t cover local laws, industry-specific rules, or union and government employers. Before you share it with employees, have an employment attorney in your state review it.

Your handbook is done. Now get it signed.

A handbook only protects you if every employee receives it and signs it. Netchex stores and versions your handbook digitally, sends acknowledgment requests to every employee automatically, and keeps a timestamped record of which version each person signed. New hires e-sign it from their phone during onboarding.

Need a handbook that stays up to date as laws change? Netchex HR includes guided handbook tools that update with the law, plus access to HR experts.

See how Netchex HR works Or request a demo

Employee handbook generator FAQs

What do I need before I start?

Just your company name, your state, and a rough idea of how you handle time off. Your logo, address, and mission statement are optional.

Can I save my progress and finish later?

Yes. Your answers are saved in your browser, so you can close the page and pick up where you left off.

Is an employee handbook required by law?

No federal law requires a handbook. But it’s the easiest way to share your policies in writing, set clear expectations, and show employees received them.

Should I give the handbook to all employees or only new hires?

Give it to everyone. Share it with current employees when it’s ready, add it to onboarding for new hires, and ask each person to sign the acknowledgment page.

How often should I update my handbook?

Review it at least once a year, and any time a law changes or you add a new policy. Employment laws change often, so a handbook that was right last year may not be right today.

Is the employee handbook builder really free?

Yes. The builder is free, you do not need an account, and you can preview every page before you download. You enter your contact details to download the Word file.

Which states does the employee handbook builder cover?

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Forty more states are coming soon.

What policies does the handbook draft include?

Core workplace policies such as at-will employment, equal opportunity, conduct, pay, time off, and leave. It also includes the policies your state requires or strongly recommends, notes on federal laws like FMLA and COBRA that likely apply at your size, and an acknowledgment page for employees to sign.

Is the handbook legal advice?

No. The draft is based on public federal and state employment laws and has not been reviewed by an attorney. It does not cover local laws, industry-specific rules, or union and government employers. Have an employment attorney review it before you share it with employees.

Can I edit the handbook after I download it?

Yes. You download it as a Microsoft Word file, so you can edit any section, fill in the highlighted notes, and add your own policies.

More handbook resources

Start your handbook in minutes

Free, state-specific, and ready to edit in Word.